LONDON — Bullies, thugs, hooligans — whatever you call them, they continue to use soccer matches to publicize their sinister interests. These days the problem is far more isolated than it was during the nasty, violent 70s and 80s, but it still rears up occasionally.

Extremists with right-wing views often converge on matches involving the biggest Italian teams, and on the Curva Nord section at Lazio’s home patch of the Olympic Stadium in Rome they pushed it to the limit

on Sunday.

Along with a portrait of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, they unfurled a banner that read: “Honour to the tiger Arkan,” a reference to the Serbian paramilitary leader indicted for war crimes who lived and died by the sword — he was shot dead himself in a Belgrade hotel earlier this month.

Swastikas are still regularly seen on posters at Lazio, and the mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli, now wants to see police action.

“I am for freedom of expression up until the point where it crosses the penal code and the law,” he said. “The problem is now one for the police, who need to make an immediate intervention.”

Though it is illegal to incite racism in Italy, prosecutions are rare firstly because of expense and secondly, bringing a case into the spotlight is often just what the offender wants.

While the right-wing nuts are most effectively dealt with by ignoring them, the mindless violence that blighted much of soccer in the bad old days could hardly be ignored. Thankfully, that has almost vanished.

Back then, shaven-headed gang members would smuggle razors hidden inside apples into stadiums, with the pure intent of wounding a rival. If there wasn’t one around, some poor sap who just happened to be in the way would do instead.

In England’s Premier League, visiting fans are still by custom locked inside the stadium at the final whistle while the home fans clear out of the area. Twenty minutes later, they are released like caged animals and allowed to return to their home towns.

Though fans nowadays are much more enlightened, police and soccer clubs remain reluctant to take chances. Only last year, one fan was killed when violence broke out on the streets of Glasgow before and after a Scottish match featuring Celtic and the Rangers.

And if you’ve ever exited a stadium to see a rumbling mob — flashes of steel, fists connecting with jaws and frightening streaks of red blood — headed in your direction, you can truly appreciate the meaning of the phrase “run for your life.”

It is thankfully a bit more dignified now. Families can go together and collect their cars at the end without finding them scratched up or burglarized, for instance. But there remains a small sense of danger just beneath the surface and until that disappears completely, the job isn’t quite finished.

ALL but washed up just before Christmas, Roberto Baggio continued his remarkable renaissance with his third goal in eight days for Inter in a 2-1 victory over Roma. Baggio, who has now become the highest- scoring active player in Italy with 158 goals, was given a standing ovation by the crowd of 60,000 at the San Siro Stadium when he was substituted 10 minutes from the end.

The artist formerly known as the Divine Ponytail has turned his public profile around completely in a matter of three weeks.

“Who loves football, loves Roberto Baggio,” read one banner held aloft by the Inter fans, who only last November had displayed one reading: “Baggio — we hate you.”

Though back in favor with the Inter coach Marcello Lippi, Baggio, who had complained at the amount of time he spent on the bench, is still taking nothing for granted.

“Having to prove myself all over again in every match is something I accept,” he said. “I am not frightened by the challenge.”